Crafting Disaster Risk Science: Environmental and geographical science sans frontières

In keeping with the University of Cape Town’s commitment to social responsiveness (http://www.socialresponsiveness.uct.ac.za/), this article traces the process that underpinned the development and introduction of a postgraduate programme in Disaster Risk Science (DRS). It foregrounds the programme’s conceptualisation within the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science (EGS) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), with particular emphasis on examining how disciplinary and theoretical coherence was balanced with cross-disciplinary application and social responsiveness. The article begins by describing the contextual conditions external to UCT’s formal teaching and learning environment that provided the necessary impetus for the new programme. It also traces the iterative relationship between context and curriculum that occurred over the period 1998–2008. This engagement was facilitated and mediated by the Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP), an interfacing research and advocacy unit, located within UCT’s Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. An explanation of subsequent content and sequencing of the postgraduate curriculum then follow. They illustrate the programme’s articulation with South Africa’s newly promulgated disaster management legislation, as well as its relevance and rigour in relation to the complex risk environment of South Africa’s Western Cape. The article specifically applies a transdisciplinary lens to the new programmme, in which Disaster Risk Science is conceptualized as a Mode 2 knowledge, but one that draws theoretically and methodologically on environmental and geographical science as its foundation or Mode 1 domain. It concludes by examining the DRS programme’s positive contributions both to scholarship and local risk management practices as well as the obstacles that constrained the new programme and continue to challenge its institutional sustainability

Ecotourism, rural development and local government : a combination for sustainability? : an investigation into the sustainability of ecotourism as a form of rural development, with reference to a case study at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg Park

This study arises from a preliminary environmental impact assessment of a proposal by the Natal Parks Board to develop a 200 bed ecotourism facility at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg Park. The author of this study was one of a team of five postgraduate students1 from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, hereafter referred to as the Masters Group, commissioned to undertake this assessment by the Natal Parks Board (NPB) in January 1995. The preliminary environmental assessment included a scoping exercise to identify all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), as well as a socio-economic survey to identify potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed development on neighbouring communities. In addition, this social investigation served to identify opportunities for community involvement in the project, both in the construction and post-construction phases. The complete terms of reference for this preliminary environmental assessment are contained in Attachment 1

No. 08: Climate Change and Food Security in Southern African Cities

The current urban transition in the Global South is at the heart of discussions about the relationship between climate change and food security. This paper explores the links between climate change and food security within the context of the urban transition taking place in Southern Africa. Climate change is expected to negatively accentuate existing levels of urban food insecurity and these adverse impacts are likely to fall disproportionately on the poor. Researchers, planners and policymakers in Southern African cities are starting to explore how changes in weather associated with climate change are likely to affect urban lifestyles and systems. In order to do this, it is important to understand how climate science knowledge is used at the level of the city and how the impacts of climate change might affect city functioning at the metropolitan and household scales. One of the critical areas that has not been addressed in any detail is the extent to which climate change will affect the food security of the city and its inhabitants, especially within the context of high levels of poverty and widespread food and nutrition insecurity. This paper argues that it is important to understand the linkages between climate change and food security in Southern African cities to begin to design and implement pro-poor planning and programming

Vulnerability to environmental change

The material is presented in the form of powerpoint presentations for 6 sections. Activities to accompany the slides are presented here. The slides form the basis of presenting the theory and linking it to key literature. Examples are provided in many places of how the theory is applied in case studies, often from work that the lecturer has been involved in and relevant to the southern African region. It is suggested that teachers who use this material in other contexts draw on local examples to support the theoretical discussions. Course objectives: 1. understand theoretical concepts of vulnerability 2. overview of what methods to use to assess vulnerability 3. understanding of the concept and application of adaptation to climate change. This 4 week module on vulnerability to environmental change is part of a third year course called Sustainability and the Environment (EGS 3021F) in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science , University of Cape Town. The course introduces the concept of vulnerability and explores its origin, drawing on three different conceptual approaches namely Risk/hazard, Political economy/ecology and Ecological resilience. It then looks at different methods for undertaking vulnerability assessments. Building on the theory and method sections it focuses on why the concept of vulnerability is important in the field of environmental change with a focus on climate change. The international process of assessing the science is explored followed by material addressing adaptation to climate change and examples of vulnerability and adaptation in practice in South Africa

The practical application of theoretical concepts of integrated environmental management (IEM) : a case study of a proposed rock quarry in a peri-urban area

Bibliography: pages 105-107.This dissertation forms part of the requirements for the degree of MSc in Environmental Science and was supervised by Professor R Fuggle, Head of Department of the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. The dissertation describes and examines the practical application of integrated environmental management (IEM) by analyzing a case study. IEM is a methodology developed in South Africa under the direction of the Council for the Environment, the purpose of which is to incorporate environmental considerations into all aspects of planning and development. A guideline document on the implementation of IEM was published in 1989 (Council for the Environment, 1989(A)), and later updated and a set of six guideline documents was published in 1992 (Department of Environment Affairs, 1992 (A) to (F)). The case study is the proposed development of a rock quarry in a peri-urban area near Johannesburg, South Africa. It was implemented in accordance with the original version of lEM. The availability of the updated guidelines and the experience gained in the case study provided potential for comparison between the original and updated procedures. Other points of relevance regarding the case study are that the site is situated in a rapidly developing area, and could therefore cause significant social impacts; the study was conducted at the most detailed level of the original IEM procedure (Class 1 ); and involved public participation, which has been emphasised in the updated IEM procedure

No. 01: The Invisible Crisis: Urban Food Security in Southern Africa

Over 1 billion people in the world are now undernourished. The current international food security agenda focuses almost exclusively on the food insecurity of rural populations and ways to increase smallholder production. The plight of the urban poor is marginalised in this agenda leading to neglect of the ‘invisible crisis’ of urban food insecurity. This paper argues that the future of Southern Africa is an urban one and that urban food insecurity is therefore a large and growing challenge. The causes, determinants and solutions for food insecurity are not the same in rural and urban settings. This paper suggests that urban food insecurity needs to be urgently inscribed on the food security agenda of local and national governments, regional organisations and international organisations

No. 03: Pathways to Insecurity: Food Supply and Access in Southern African Cities

As in many parts of the world, supermarket expansion and control of food supply chains is having a major impact on the quality, quantity and price of food available to urban residents. Growing numbers of poor households in Southern African cities now obtain their food, directly or indirectly, from supermarkets. In most cities, these same households spend over 40 percent of household income on food. Supermarket expansion is also having a major impact on the informal sector. This paper reviews the changing nature of the urban food supply in Southern African cities, the role of supermarkets and the informal sector in food accessibility and the implications for the food security of the urban poor

The conservation worthiness of the environment of the Black and Liesbeeck River confluence area

This dissertation aims to interpret the environmental factors which will inform land use planning for the Liesbeek-Black River Confluence Area. It is in partial fulfilment of the academic requirements for a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Environmental Science through the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science (ENGEO) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This document follows on from the Baseline Information Document (BID) produced by the 1994 Masters students and should be read in combination with that document. This dissertation uses the information provided in that document, and with the support of other materials and insights, draws conclusions for the most appropriate land use for the study area. A Statement of the Problem, the Aim, Approach and Philosophy adopted towards the Study Area in this Dissertation. The problem is perceived to be the substantial public objection to recent proposed developments in the study area. These objections have revolved around the method of disposal of State land, the fragmentation of public open space and the apparent disregard of the authorities for the natural historical legacy of the Cape Peninsula. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that the study area holds potential as a public amenity. This could be self-supporting and of benefit to future generations in the region and is therefore worthy of conservation. The approach adopted in this dissertation is that the study area is unsuitable for any use other than as a conservation and recreational reserve. This could prove its value in a substantially more populated and informed future Cape Town. Urban open space, which constitutes wildlife habitat, is required locally to meet increased human population habitation needs. This need is perceived to be global phenomenon. There is concern that the accumulated consequence of these local demands, will result in a profound negative effect on the Biosphere

Liesbeeck-Black river confluence area : land-use opportunities and constraints

Bibliography: leaves 69-72.This study investigated the land-use potential of the Liesbeeck-Black River confluence area . It is intended to serve as a guide to land-use planners and other interested parties concerning the opportunities and constraints proffered by the environment on the confluence area. The collecting of baseline data was undertaken by nine Masters Students in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town. Each student then analysed the data individually. The study was undertaken in part fulfilment of the academic requirements of the Masters Degree. The Liesbeeck-Black River confluence area (hereafter called the study area) is located approximately 5.5 km east of the CBD of Cape Town. It covers approximately 232 ha and is bounded by the N2 Freeway to the South, Alexandra Road to the East, Liesbeeck Parkway to the West and the Culemborg-Black River Railway Yard to the North. The aim of the study was twofold, firstly to determine a procedure whereby the optimal land- use alternative for an area could be determined, taking into account the effects of significant environmental elements, and secondly to analyse and determine the optimal land-use alternative for the study area specifically. The procedure developed during the research is an adaptation of the Leopold Matrix method of analysis. The environmental elements characteristic of the study area are listed on the horizontal axis, and the land-use options to be analysed on the vertical axis. The magnitude and significance of the effect of an environmental element on a particular type of land-use can then be rated and this rating entered in the corresponding matrix cell. By adding the ratings of all environmental elements on each land-use option, the overall rating of the different land-use options can be obtained. The option with the highest overall (positive) rating is then considered to be the optimal type of land-use. This method was then applied to assess the land-use potential of the study area. The land-use options considered to be appropriate for the study area were determined by considering only those types of land-uses for which a regional need had previously been established